Swanton Bulldog baseball standout Luke Marlow has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his education and baseball career at Hocking College (Hawks) in Nelsonville, Ohio. Luke, a First-Team All NWOAL Baseball selection and Northwest Ohio District I Baseball Player of the Year in 2025, has already broken several school career records with his senior year remaining.
“A big thing for me was it was the first school to offer me so that made it personal for me,” said Luke explain his choice. “The coaches really made me feel at home, the (other) players were really nice and they are getting a brand-new field.” Reflecting back on his yet unfinished but very impressive high school career Luke said, “It’s been good. We’ve gotten better every year and this year we’re looking to do some pretty big things.”
Luke’s contributions to the 2025 Bulldogs helped the team set a school record of 19 wins which led to Head Coach Josh Siewert being named Northwest Ohio District I Baseball Player of the Year. “He came in as a freshman and totally changed our culture. It’s going to be rough knowing he’s gone after this year but he’s meant everything to this program,” said Coach Siewert speaking of Luke’s impact on Swanton baseball. “He does a little bit of everything. Hocking College has a good one coming to them.”
In the classroom, Luke plans on majoring in Criminal Justice with an eye on joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after graduation.
Click on the link above to access photos from the signing. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Luke Marlow signs surrounded by Swanton baseball coaches Greg Chonko, Matt O’Shea, Eric Epley, Josh Siewert
In a low-scoring first half, the Swanton Lady Bulldogs trailed the North Central Lady Eagles by just four points, 16-12 as both teams struggled on offense. However, after the break, Swanton’s shooting went from cold to ice cold as they could only score five points in the second half while North Central caught fire and put up 30 more points on their side of the scoreboard and went on to defeat the Lady Bulldogs 46-17 on Tuesday night at the McQuade Gymnasium. Lexi Yeager scored eight points for Swanton and Carli LaGrange added seven. Mia Lawson led the Lady Eagles with 17 points and Mallory Grove had 10.
Swanton’s record drops to 2-11 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs will stay at home for Thursday night’s contest against NWOAL foe the Liberty Center Lady Tigers.
North Central Lady Eagles: 6-10-17-13 = 46 Mia Lawson (17), Mallory Grove (10), Tessa Reyome (7), Cailyn Meyers (4), Addyson Turner (2), Addie Burger (2), Anna Burt (2)
Click o0n the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
The following is a Press Release from Epiphany Community Service located at 95 N. Main Street in Swanton. Epiphany Community Services is as national public health evaluation firm that works with communities to mitigate the impact of mental illness and substance use in the community. More information can be found at www.epiphanycommunityservices.com
URGENT: LOCAL SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS TERMINATED
Grants from the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cancelled overnight. Nationwide SAMHSA terminated discretionary funding for mental health and substance abuse immediately, without warning, overnight. The federal government provided no transition time and no clear explanation, greatly impacting substance use and mental health services and employment in our community.
Mental health and substance use services are now disrupted, leaving community members who rely on these services at risk. Staff positions and programs are now destabilized due to this sudden and unexpected loss of funding. Communities lost critical services overnight. According to Deacon D. Dzierzawski, President of Epiphany Community Services, “A letter was sent after 10:00 PM on Tuesday evening, notifying grantees their SAMHSA grant, which focuses mental health and substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment, was terminated. This means communities will lose effective, evidence-based programming that is critical in addressing mental illness and substance misuse. This will also lead to rising unemployment locally as the staff who supported this programming are impacted.”
The letter stated that the affected grants were terminated due to no longer being aligned with program goals and/or SAMHSA’s priorities; however, these grants addressed substance use and mental health, which are listed as priorities on SAMHSA’s website. It is imperative this funding be restored without delay. Ensuring hundreds of thousands of people do not lose their jobs and millions of people do not lose access to vital mental health and substance abuse services.
Epiphany Community Services Media Contact: Deacon D. Dzierzawski, 419-343-2849, deacon@epiphanycommunityservices.com
On behalf of the Village of Swanton and its residents and businesses, Administrator Shannon Shulters sent the following letter to local electric utility companies regarding the frequent and damaging power failures the Swanton area has been experiencing since last October and the likely potential of outages going forward:
Date: January 13, 2026 RE: Formal Opposition to Proposed Extended Power Outage Standards and Ongoing Reliability Failures Impacting the Village of Swanton to Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Village of Swanton, this letter serves as a formal and public statement of strong opposition to any proposal that would permit longer or more frequent power outages as an acceptable operating standard for electric utilities serving our community.
Recently, FirstEnergy — the parent company of Toledo Edison — filed a proposal with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to loosen reliability standards. This proposal would allow restored outages to take longer and would permit customers to experience outages more often, based on adjusted reliability metrics the utility has asked regulators to adopt. Background & Context According to reporting on the proposal, FirstEnergy is seeking approval to alter outage response standards — including increasing the amount of time utilities are expected to restore power (effectively permitting longer outages) and allowing for more frequent service interruptions. The company has cited challenges such as weather impacts and aging infrastructure as justification for this request.
While utilities may face operational pressures, the Village of Swanton and its residents cannot accept weaker reliability expectations — especially given what we have endured over the past several months. Swanton’s Experience Since October 10 Since October 10, Swanton has suffered from repeated substation failures and extended power outages that have severely disrupted daily life and economic activity. These outages have continued through the present and have dramatically impacted municipal operations, local businesses, and residents across all demographics. Impact on Village Infrastructure Repeated and prolonged outages have disrupted critical public infrastructure, including: • Water treatment and wastewater systems • Traffic control and public safety communications • Municipal operations that protect public health and emergency response.
These systems are foundational to resident well-being and public safety. The reliability of electric service is not optional — it is necessary to ensure basic services function without undue risk. Impact on Local Businesses, both small and large businesses within Swanton, have been negatively affected:
• Loss of revenue due to forced closures or reduced operating hours • Equipment damage and spoilage tied to unstable power conditions • Higher operational costs from emergency generators and recovery expenses. Many small businesses operate on thin margins and cannot absorb repeat financial hits caused by prolonged power interruptions.
Impact on Residents: The consequences for residents have been equally significant: • Families have incurred losses from food spoilage and property damage • Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and medically dependent, have been put at risk during outages • Winter weather and cold temperatures further compounding the hardship.
Position of the Village of Swanton: The Village of Swanton formally and unequivocally opposes any regulatory change that would relax reliability or restoration standards, effectively normalizing longer or more frequent outages. Proposals that set lower expectations for electric service reliability are incompatible with the fundamental needs of our community.
We call on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, state representatives, and the utility companies to: 1. Reject proposals that reduce reliability standards and permit longer outages. 2. Require FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries to explain the root causes of persistent outages impacting Swanton. 3. Prioritize infrastructure improvements and investments that enhance grid resilience for all customers. 4. Engage directly with affected communities before advancing changes to utility reliability obligations.
The Village of Swanton stands with its residents and business owners in demanding dependable and safe electric service. While we recognize the operational challenges utilities may face, community health, safety, and economic stability must remain the paramount consideration in any regulatory decision. Any plan that effectively lowers the bar for reliability not only undermines public trust but places our citizens at risk — a result we cannot accept.
Respectfully,
Shannon Shulters Administrator Village of Swanton
Cc: Toledo Edison / FirstEnergy, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, The Ohio House of Representatives and Senators, Office of the Governor Mike DeWine, Members of the Media, Village of Swanton Council Members & Mayor
At the first meeting of 2026 for the Swanton Village Council, four individuals who were successful in their bid for office in the November election, were formally sworn into office by Mayor Neil Toeppe. The four members are Patricia Pilliod (first time serving), Dave Pilliod (previous member), Deacon D. Dzierzawski (previous member) and Noah Kreuz (incumbent).
Once the Council was officially seated, their first order of business was to elect the President of the Council or President Pro Temp, who would serve as the Mayor if, for any reason, the Mayor was unavailable to conduct the Council meeting. Mr. Toeppe called for nominations from the Council and Councilman John Schmidt nominated Mr. Pilliod. Councilwoman Westhoven then nominated Mr. Dzierzawski. Before the nominations were closed, Mr. Pilliod withdrew his name from consideration. Finance Director Holden Benfield called the roll for their vote and Mr. Dzierzawski was elected unanimously.
Next, Mr. Toeppe called for Council members to establish Rules of Council for 2026. Mr. Dzierzawski recommended to hold a Special Meeting to set the Rules of Council sometime before the next regularly scheduled Council meeting on Monday, January 26th. After a brief discussion, the Council agreed to meet on Wednesday, January 21st at 6:00 PM. Following the Ohio Revised Code, the meeting proceeded under the 2025 Rules of Council.
Mayor Toeppe swears in Council members (L to R): Deacon D. Dzierzawski , Patricia Pilliod, Dave Pilliod, Noah Kreuz
On Friday afternoon, the Delta Panthers lost both matches to the Patrick Henry Patriots at the Swanton Sports Center. The Patriot boys team defeated the Panther boys’ team 1890-1623 and the Lady Patriots beat the Lady Panthers 1692-1524.
Quinton Colburn led the Patriots with a two-game series total of 387, including a match-high 209 game and Marcello Miracola rolled a two-game series score of 329 for the Panthers. Natalie Cavenaugh shot a two-game series 279 score for the Lady Patriots and Marcella Morris had a match-high series total of 295.
Patrick Henry Patriots: Quinton Colburn (209 + 178 = 387), Derrek Munding (153 + 158 = 371), Kolton Barnhisel (145), Levi Hoops (145), Charles Vaughn (139), Caleb Wenner (138), Arthur Lammers (123), Jaxon Hayes (102), Baker Games (91 + 158 + 151 = 400) Total = 1890
Delta Panthers: Marcello Miracola (155 + 174 = 329), Luca Miracola (120 + 178 = 298), Kaiden Boeliner (114), Layton Fisher (113), Gary Hockenberry (94), EJ Griewahn (80), James Cass (73). Baker Games (142 + 133 + 149 = 424) Total = 1623
Patrick Henry Lady Patriots: Natalie Cavanaugh (137 + 142 = 279), Lana Breece (168 + 105 = 273), Claire Piercefield (130 + 128 = 258), Leah Geahlen (124 + 98 = 222), Becca Hathaway (157), Alisa Alvarado (99), Baker Games (134 + 107 + 163 = 404) Total = 1692
CK Sweets Coffee & Bakeshop Celebrates 6 Years with Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting in Swanton
CK Sweets Coffee & Bakeshop is celebrating a major milestone with a Grand Re-Opening and ribbon cutting to mark six years of business and the recent purchase and renovation of its downtown Swanton building on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 8:00 am. The celebration will take place at 95 S. Main Street, Swanton, on the day before CK Sweets’ sixth anniversary.
After purchasing the building at the end of 2024, CK Sweets spent 2025 renovating the exterior, giving the space the care and attention it had long deserved. The result is a refreshed, welcoming storefront that reflects the heart of the business and its continued commitment to the community.
The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to host a ribbon cutting as part of the celebration. “Seeing a local business grow, purchase their own building, reinvest in downtown, and continue serving the community is exactly what we love to celebrate. The building looks amazing, and this milestone is well earned,” said Delray E Busch, Executive Director of the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Since opening six years ago, CK Sweets Coffee & Bakeshop has become a staple in downtown Swanton, known for its welcoming atmosphere, quality coffee, baked goods, and strong community presence. The Grand Re-Opening celebrates not only the physical transformation of the building, but also the relationships and community support that have fueled the business’s growth. Owner Cat Kania is a U.S. military veteran who served as a Master Sergeant (E7) in the Security Forces Squadron, bringing leadership, dedication, and service-driven values into every aspect of the business.
About the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce: The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses through advocacy, promotion, networking, and community engagement, working to strengthen Swanton’s local economy. Media Contact: Delray E Busch Executive Director Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce swantoncc@gmail.com 419-826-1941
The Liberty Center Tigers visited the Swanton Sports Center on Friday and took both the Boys and Girls bowling matches from the Swanton Bulldogs.
In the Boys match, the Tigers beat the Bulldogs 2048-1568 with Maddox Oyer rolled a two-game series 347 for Liberty Center. Nick Trumbull bowled a two-game series score of 300 for Swanton.
Liberty Center Tigers: Maddox Oyer (164 + 183 = 347), Stone Roth (184 + 157 = 341), Owen Gebers (159 + 178 = 337), Wesley Wilhelm (112 + 201 = 313), Tokada Hopkins (136 + 132 = 268), Baker Games (181 + 167 + 94 = 442) Total = 2048
On the Girls side, the Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Bulldogs 1918-1519 as Paige White tossed a two-game series 348 including a match-high 220 for Liberty Center. Emma Leonard had a two-game series score of 325 for Swanton.
Liberty Center Lady Tigers: Paige White (220 + 128 = 348), Cheyene Miller (145 + 168 = 313), Kassidee Bergstedt (149 + 158 – 307), Audri Trapp (152), Annaliese Keene (141), Natalie Huber (140), Halle Shadday (121), Baker Games (136 + 139 + 121 = 396) Total = 1918
Wauseon junior Riley Riegsecker drained a two-point shot from the baseline with 1:46 remaining in the game to break a 35-35 tie to give the visiting Indians a lead they would not relinquish in a 43-37 NWOAL victory over the Swanton Bulldogs on Thursday night. With the Bulldogs needing to foul to regain possession as time wound down, the Indians responded by making six consecutive free throws, four by Collin Mennetti and two by Xzavier Molina, to put the game away.
Entering the second quarter tied at 7-7, Swanton took the lead early in the frame, led 20-14 at the half and still was on top 33-29 at the end of the third. However, Wauseon outscored the Bulldogs 14-4 in the fourth quarter to pick up the win in the league opener for both teams. Riegsecker scored a game-high 21 points and Mennetti added eight to pace the Indians. Evan Reihard and Brady Haselman each led Swanton with 12 points and Gio Ruiz had nine.
Wauseon improves their record to 4-6 on the season and 1-0 in the NWOAL. They return home tonight to face the Defiance Bulldogs. Swanton drops to 4-7 this season and 0-1 in the league. They next travel to Ottawa Hills on Tuesday to take on the Green Bears.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Riley Riegsecker led all scorers with 21 points
The Swanton Board of Education will hold its first meeting of the year on January 14th and is expected to approve the hiring of Matt Horen as the high school’s new head football coach. Mr. Horen is currently serving as the Assistant Principal of Swanton High School and will take over the program immediately.
“Swanton has always held a special place in my heart,” he said explaining why he returned to the Swanton School District after being away for a year. Previously, Mr. Horen held the same position at the Swanton Middle School. By becoming the football coach, he believes it will give him more opportunity to connect with some of the students on a different level.
With coaching stops at Washington Local (Whitmer), Springfield, Swanton Middle School and Perrysburg, Mr. Horen brings a lot of experience to the job. He replaces Nate McAfee who stepped down this past Fall after two years at the helm.
Fulton County Ohio Media 